Saturday, September 22, 2012

BREAKING NEWS : Racial attack in Rangamati, several injured

Riots have broken out in Rangamati town, leaving several
– both Jummas and Bengalees – wouned.

It
started at about 10:30 in Rangamati
Government College,
spilled over into Banarupa, College Gate, New Market and other areas of the
town and is still ongoing. (12:45pm.)

According
to various sources, members of Bangladesh Chattra League, student wing of
ruling Awami League, and common students locked in an altercation over a
trifling matter, but it soon turned into a clash between Jumma and Bengali
students, resulting in about 42 injured from both sides including an army
soldier.

Later
the clash spread into other areas of the town, with Bengalis running amock. At 11:30am the Bengalis attacked Jummas at
Banrupa, College Gate and New Market.

They
also entered Upazila Hall Room, where a conference of the chairmen of the three
hill districts was being held, and attacked Jumma participants. Many have been
wounded. Arun Chakma, chairman of Mogban Union, is missing.

At
Banrupa, at least 30 Jummas have been injured in the attack. Two of them have
been identified as Tapas Chakma and Shushovan Chakma, a physician.

Two
of the many injured at New market have also been identified. They are Shimul
Chakma and Dhiman Khisha.

The
attackers also attacked and destroyed Jumma shops and businesses at Banrupa and
College Gate. They also smashed the medical chamber of Dr. Kanishka Chakmas at
Banarupa Petrol Pump area.

The
unruly Bengalis, most of them from outside Rangamati, also tried to attack
Jumma businesses in other areas such as New Market and Kalindipur, but they
were repulsed.

They
also torched four to five motorbikes at Banarupa and a bus at College gate
area.

At
Rangamati College
the attackers ransacked the room of the principal of the college, Ms Banchita
Khisha.

The
Bengalis have now (12:45) moved to
Tabalchari to attack Jumma houses.

Some
other wounded are Shubhongkor Chakma son of Shashanka Chakma, Subroto Chakma
son of Thakur Prashad Chakma, Ashish Chakma son of Nioti Chakma, Joba Chakma, a
female college student (first year), Ananda Sagar Chakma, a businessman from
Kattoli, Naiachar.

Two
Hindu teachers of Rangmati college were also wounded after the Bengalis
attacked them believing them to be Jumma.

Another
Jumma college teacher was also wounded. His name could not be learnt.

The
local administration imposed section 144 at about 1pm
after the Bengalis achieved what they wanted.

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chtnews.com is an independent and voluntary online news service dedicated to projecting and analyzing the current events in the Chittagong Hill Tracts from the perspective of the Jumma people's struggle for the right to self-determination. For further information please contact at: chtnewsonline@gmail.com